Premium
A Self‐Assembled Superhydrophobic Electrospun Carbon–Silica Nanofiber Sponge for Selective Removal and Recovery of Oils and Organic Solvents
Author(s) -
Tai Ming Hang,
Tan Benny Yong Liang,
Juay Jermyn,
Sun Darren D.,
Leckie James O.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
chemistry – a european journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.687
H-Index - 242
eISSN - 1521-3765
pISSN - 0947-6539
DOI - 10.1002/chem.201405670
Subject(s) - sponge , materials science , electrospinning , porosity , adsorption , sorption , nanofiber , carbon nanofiber , chemical engineering , carbon fibers , nanotechnology , composite material , polymer , organic chemistry , chemistry , carbon nanotube , botany , composite number , engineering , biology
An oil spill needs timely cleanup before it spreads and poses serious environmental threat to the polluted area. This always requires the cleanup techniques to be efficient and cost‐effective. In this work, a lightweight and compressible sponge made of carbon–silica nanofibers is derived from electrospinning nanotechnology that is low‐cost, versatile, and readily scalable. The fabricated sponge has high porosity (>99 %) and displays ultra‐hydrophobicity and superoleophilicity, thus making it a suitable material as an oil adsorbent. Owing to its high porosity and low density, the sponge is capable of adsorbing oil up to 140 times its own weight with its sorption rate showing solution viscosity dependence. Furthermore, sponge regeneration and oil recovery are feasible by using either cyclic distillation or mechanical squeezing.